Introduction

Abstract

There are certain reference works that engineers and scientists alike find invaluable in their day-to-day work activities. Many of these reference volumes are of a generic nature such as tables of integrals, tables of series, handbooks of mathematical formulas and transforms, etc. (see Refs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 for example), whereas others are collections of technical papers and textbooks that directly relate to the individual’s specific field of specialty. Continuing along this train of thought, there exists a great deal of valuable information that, in its original form, was published in university and company reports and as such the general public was in many cases not aware of its existence. Even worse, today this archival material is no longer available to the public in any form since its original source has declared it to be out of print for quite some time now. Furthermore, most of the authors of these works have long since retired or sadder yet have passed on; however, the material contained in the documents themselves has intrinsic value and is timeless in terms of its value to today’s practicing engineer or scientist. As time marches on and new young engineers and scientists replace the old ones, the passing of the torch must include a means by which this valuable information be communicated to the new generation.